NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Want to buy an iPhone? Verizon would really, really like you to consider an alternative.

Anecdotal evidence is stacking up on chat forums and other outlets from people who say that Verizon Wireless' sales representatives actively discouraged them from buying an iPhone and instead pushed hard for rival smartphones.

I decided to find out for myself. I had 10 conversations with Verizon ( VZ, Fortune 500) sales representatives in New York stores, on the phone, and in online chat sessions, asking about my options for a new smartphone.

Here's what I found: Next time you walk into a Verizon store looking to buy a smartphone, expect the hard sell on a 4G Android device.